Crowing???

[Kbagwell1]

OK....we have 2 barred cochin bantams. When we bought them, we were told (bought from a reputable breeder) they were a breeding pair. Well about a week ago, my in laws go out there to there pen and see/hear both of them crowing!!!! Then my husband and I witnessed it on Friday! We've had them for about 2 months and never witnessed them mating and haven't collected any eggs from their pen. That brings us to yesterday....my family and I went over to my parents house for Easter....my in laws call and say you'll never guess who laid an egg. They got an egg from the barred cochin bantams!!!

So I don't know what to think....our bantam cages are huge but they are connected to each of the other cages so I'm wondering if some how another breeds egg rolled into their pen!? Anyone ever heard of a hen crowing???? What should I think about this??

 

[blefky]

Some hens do "crow", so to speak. When I brought this spring's hatched chicks (19) out to the grow out coop, my established flock all crowded the shared fence between their runs to see what was up. My dominant hen, a barred rock, immediately jumped up to the highest roost in their run and let loose with a long strangled sounding crow. Just establishing some boundaries I guess.

Others have commented on this behavior as well, apparently especially in the absence of a rooster.

 

[Kbagwell1]

Thats the thing....we have tons of roosters!!! They do "fight", thats more like playing by bowing their chests up.....

 

[scratch'n'peck]

very strange. do they both look like roosters?

 

[Kbagwell1]

They look alike...the "hen" is alittle smaller and a smaller comb/waddle.

 

[Kbagwell1]

Anyone have any ideas????

 

[speckledhen]

Without pictures, we couldn't venture to guess.

 

[Kbagwell1]

Here they are! "She" is on the right!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Lovely chickens, but I must say it is a mystery to me. I have heard an odd story once of a hen turning into a rooster as an adult.

 

[Kbagwell1]

I've posted pics....can anyone help?